Dr S. Shamala for MHC deputy president

THE Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) will see winds of change on May 13, with royalty bowing out while intellectuals taking over the top echelon.
  For at the moment of writing, Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal still has no challengers for the president's post, while S. Shamala will be gunning for the women's deputy president's post.
  The men's deputy president front-runner is Datuk Nur Azmi Ahmad.
  Incumbent president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah and incumbent deputy president is Puan Sri Raja Noora Ashikin Raja Abdullah will not seek re-election.
  Subahan is a chartered accountant by profession, while Shamala is a computer whiz at Universiti Putra Malaysia, and her full title is professor Dr Shamala, a PhD holder in Computer Science.
  "I have decided to stand for the deputy president's post (women) after receiving good feedback from state affiliates, and there is no turning back, as I am willing to challenge anybody who is also keen on the post," said Shamala yesterday.
  However, with recent amendments to the MHC constitution, there will be two deputy president's with one for each gender.
  "After the amendment, the deputy president's post is no longer ceremonial but a working post. So, at the end of the last council meeting, Puan Sri (Raja Noora) told me to go for it and that's why I have decided to stand for election at a higher post," said Shamala.
  Raja Noora Ashikin said she will call it a day: "Yes I will not be seeking re-election, and have even asked my home state Perak not to nominate me. I am backing Shamala to take over the chair."
  Shamala started as secretary to the now defunct Malaysian Women's Hockey Federation (MWHF) and then moved on to become a vice-president in the MHC.
  She is also a council member in the Asian Hockey Federation: "I have served hockey at every level, and with two deputy presidents' I can concentrate on developing the ladies teams as well as grassroot. Malaysia has some very talented women players, and they need some sound programmes to make them even better.
  "I'm ready to take on a bigger responsibility in the sport which I have dedicated half my life to, and I will challenge anybody who stands against me. There is no turning back," said Shamala.
  Early indications are that Shamala and Subahan will not have to go to the polls to take over the reigns of MHC, as they might just be winners when nominations close.
  During the earlier nominations which were cancelled due to a messed up constitution, Subahan won unopposed with 12 states nominating him, while Shamala had the highest nomination (men as well as women) for vice-president with 11 states backing her quest.
  The closing date for nominations is April 28 while the last date for withdrawals is May 9.